THE FUNERAL
After a long shower, Jessica stepped out of the bathroom and walked to the kitchen. She never knew cooking because she was never allowed to step in the kitchen as she was the pampered young miss. But some circumstances so happened that she learned to cook for herself as all the dishes tasted awful after her mom who used to coo for her left her.
As she was about to get some eggs from the fridge her eyes fell on a covered plate with an eye-catching note on it. From her distance, the note had the same handwriting.
She walked to the table and picked up the note.
'Eat your breakfast sweetie… Don't starve yourself. Warm the food up before eating.' It had a smiling emoji at the end.
Her heart filled with warmth. The warmth she had long forgotten. Deep in her heart, she was happy that someone cared but she also had another feeling that was… Fear. She was afraid of losing this happiness and comfort… She was afraid that someone would snatch away her happiness, her joy, and her love. She wanted to protect her love. She had lost enough and now she would fight back if someone had ill intentions towards her loved ones and she carried the power to do so.
She again glanced at the plate before sitting down and revealing the food to eat. She was engulfed by the appetizing aroma, but the food had turned slightly cold. Jessica was not in the habit to eat food that was cold or not to her taste even if she was on the verge of fainting due to hunger.
She got up and took the food to re-heat it. Checking the temperature was up to her choice she walked back to her seat and sat down.
Her kitchen was an open space and had a small dining table fit for two people but more can sit down on the counter. One could be able to see the television in the living room from the kitchen.
Jessica switched on the television and moved to the cartoon channels. No one, in particular, would feel bored watching a cartoon series and this applied to any age group. Personally, Jessica was a huge fan of cartoons and she even researched them. There was no such cartoon that she would not have watched.
When she was abroad her friends would joke around her saying she was childish but a few of them would accompany her to watch all the cartoons. It gave off the vibe that they were still young and would never leave their childishness.
Due to her attention on the television Jessica ate slower than a turtle. And it took her almost an hour to finish up what was on her plate. She kept the plate in the dishwasher before going into the living room and again she was focused on the television.
Suddenly her phone's screen lit up showing a new notification. She picked up her phone it was a message from Steve. She opened it with a smile.
'Get dressed. I am coming to pick you up.'
After reading the message Jessica got up immediately and rushed into her room to find something to wear. Soon her bed was filled with clothes as she stared at them not able to decide what to wear.
After a long while, Jessica finally chooses a black top paired with black jeans. she looked extremely stunning. Her dress contrasted with her skin and the color itself was in contrast to her pure and innocent look.
After she was done getting dressed her phone rang. It was from Steve. She put on her shoes and rushed out. Walking outside her building she spotted a low-key black porch parked by the roadside. The car's window rolled down and Steve waved at Jessica. She walked over and they drive off.
After having a delicious lunch in a restaurant they headed towards the Han mansion.
....
Today was the funeral of president Han. Many socialites were present there. In the center of the living hall, Jia stood greeting the guests. her eyes were bloodshot red. It seemed she had cried for days.
Jessica was staring at the girl in a black dress when her eyes met the girl she was staring at. Jia spotted Jessica and she felt a surge of pain rise in her heart as their eyes met. Keeping her tears at bay she walked towards the couple. Steve held Jessica's hand. He could feel her shivering.
"Sis, you are here. Dad is gone." Jia said as tears gushed down her eyes. The sorrow was clear in her voice. Jessica could not help but feel impressed by the girls acting skills. She decided to play along and hugged her sister. The teardrop from her eyes made it seem even more real. The guests looked at the girls with pity and saw that they were caring but a few knew it was not the truth. Soon all left for the graveyard.
They went to say a final goodbye to their beloved father. At the time when their father was buried Jessica didn't feel happy instead, she felt as if she lost another thing that was important to her.
Slowly all the guests left leaving a few of them behind. Jessica stood in front of the grave and intensely stared at it when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned around to meet deep-set blue eyes. It was from Steve. His eyes had a comforting feeling, they carried care, security, and a feeling that could not be described in mere words. Seeing him by her side she felt more at ease and turned to walk ahead. Her fingers were interlocked with that of Steve as they walked towards their car.
Suddenly Jessica turned back to look at her father's grave. 'Dad… I hope you are in a better place… and… I accept your apology… And thanks for being such a great man… I miss you.' Her eyes were filled with tears as memories of her childhood flowed in her mind.
To every daughter, her father is her superhero and it was the same for Jessica. As a child, she had the same feeling for her dad. To her, there was no better mentor than her father, no better bed than her father's arms, and no better swing than her father's shoulders. She clearly remembered the happy memories she had spent with her superhero- her dad.
In her mind came a loving daughter-father playing by the beach…
She saw a father picking up his baby daughter from school…
a father reading stories for his daughter…
a father cooking for his daughter and…
a father sleeping peacefully with his daughter.
a father who loved his daughter endlessly.